Surname Mc Ginnis - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Mc Ginnis: What does the surname Mc Ginnis mean?
The last name Mc Ginnis is an ancient Gaelic name of Irish and Scottish origin. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic MacFhionnghaise, which translates to "son of Fhionnghas". The name is anglicised from its Gaelic roots, becoming MacGinnis, and then Mc Ginnis over time.
Mc Ginnis is an ancient clan name belonging to the root clan of MacFhionnghas, which is a branch of the larger tribe of Clan Donald, the largest clan in Scotland and the UK. Clan Donald traces its roots back to the 10th century, and in modern times it still holds significant political and cultural influence and power in Scotland.
McGinnis is thought to have first been used as a personal name in the late 15th century in Scotland, specifically with the family of McGinnis of Dumfries. Since then, the surname has become quite widespread in Scotland and Ireland.
Mc Ginnis is a patronymic surname, meaning that it was derived from the original bearer's father's name. It is thought to have derived from the name MacFhionnghaise, which translates to "son of Fhionnghas". The name Fhionnghas is believed to mean "fair conqueror", an apt description for the McGinnis clan which historically had significant influence and power in Scotland.
Today, the surname McGinnis is still quite common in Scotland and Ireland, though there are several variations such as MacGinnis, McGeanis, and MacGinniss. It is also found in the US, Canada, Australia, and other countries, indicating that the name has been spread far and wide.
Order DNA origin analysisMc Ginnis: Where does the name Mc Ginnis come from?
The last name Mc Ginnis is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In these two countries, the surname is widely associated with Irish-Scots settlers of ancient origins. It’s believed that the Mc Ginnis clan originated in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland just prior to the 15th century.
The Mc Ginnis surname is also common in Scotland, particularly in the west of the country in areas such as Glasgow and the borders region. The Mc Ginnis surname was brought to Scotland by members of the Irish diaspora who migrated north of the border in the 19th century in search of economic opportunity.
Today the Mc Ginnis surname can also be found in other parts of the globe, with significant concentrations of the clan located in North America, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. The name is particularly common in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where the descendants of Irish settlers took root in the late 1700s and 1800s.
In the modern age, the Mc Ginnis surname is an incredibly common one, appearing in many countries around the world. Through Irish migration, the Mc Ginnis clan now has representation in all five of the world’s major regional populations: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.
Variations of the surname Mc Ginnis
The surname Mc Ginnis has its roots in the Irish Gaelic name Mac Fhionnghaile, which translates to “Son of the Fair Haired One” or “Son of Fingal”. The spelling of the surname can vary across regions and cultures, some of the most popular being Mc Ginnis, Mc Ginniss, Mac Ginnis, Mac Ginniss, M’Ginnis, and M’Ginniss. In addition, the alternative forms of this surname can include Fenion, Finnis, Finniss, Ginnis, Ginniss, Gennyce, McGinsey, Finney, and Gwinn.
Another variant of this surname is MacGinnis, which is an anglicised version of Mac Fhionnghaile. In the past, the Gaelic spelling was often changed to make surnames easier to pronounce or spell. The spelling also changed when immigrants to the United States and other English-speaking countries changed their surnames to blend in with the new culture.
Variations of Mc Ginnis can also be seen in Scotland as McEwen and McGowan, as well as in Wales as the slang, “Ginny”. The Irish also have other variants such as Maughan, MacCoyne, MacCuill, McGinn, and Ginnis.
In conclusion, the surname Mc Ginnis has many variants and spellings, including MacGinnis, M’Ginnis, MacCoyne, MacCuill, McGinn, Ginnis, McGinsey, Fenion, Finnis, Finniss, Gennyce, and Finney.
Famous people with the name Mc Ginnis
- AshMcGinnis: Founder/CEO of McGinnis Enterprises, a private business development firm.
- Dan McGinnis: American Mixed Martial Artist.
- Michael McGinnis: Emmy-winning cinematographer for films such as Need for Speed and The Expendables series, and television series like Gotham and the first season of Homeland.
- Mitchell McGinnis: MLB player for the Chicago Cubs, and a graduate of the University of Kentucky.
- Natalie McGinnis: Pop star whose single "Gone" reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2011.
- Patrick McGinnis: American actor who starred in films like Beyond Rangoon and Big Papa.
- Ryan McGinnis: Popular YouTube star whose channel is dedicated to vlogging about his life and business.
- Tasia McGinnis: Winner of the first season of the singing competition The Voice.
- Tim McGinnis: Award-winning American actor who appeared in shows like Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, and Mad About You.
- Ty McGinnis: Longtime NFL quarterback and current commentator for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown.